Foreign Policy Blogs

Asia & Pacific

Pakistan's Growing Chain of Violence

A failed assassination attempt on Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the capital Islamabad highlights insecurity in the nuclear-armed country just three days before a presidential election will name Pervez Musharraf's successor. Pakistan has been rocked by a spate of violence that has seen hundreds die in suicide bombings and explosions over the past […]

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Taliban claims Pakistan attack

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibilty for an assasination attempt on Yousuf Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister. Shots were fired at the pime minister's motorcade on Wednesday near Islamabad's international airport, but officials and police said Gilani was not in the car at the time. The Taliban said it was behyind the attack and said it […]

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Pakistan's Prime Minister Unhurt After Shooting

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan ‚ Shots were fired at the motorcade of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Wednesday afternoon near the capital, Islamabad, but Mr. Gilani was not in the motorcade at the time, Pakistani officials said. Mr. Gilani was returning to Islamabad after a visit to the city of Lahore, and had departed Chaklala Air […]

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Pakistan is at last finding its voice. The US would be wise not to gag it

Given the bleak economic and security situation in Pakistan, it is easy to forget that 2008 has also been a year of positive events for the country. February's elections proved that it is possible to hold free and fair polls in Pakistan, that in such circumstances undemocratic leaders such as Musharraf and his allies will […]

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Al Qaida has free movement in Pakistan, top official concedes

ISLAMABAD ‚ Pakistan's top security official Monday admitted that al Qaida's leadership moved freely in and out of the country and vowed that “no mercy” would be shown to extremists based in its tribal territory that borders Afghanistan . In the past, Pakistan has been heavily criticized for rejecting evidence that al Qaida was largely […]

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Tribal lashkar attacks Taliban

KHAR, Pakistan: A lashkar of the Salarzai tribe launched a campaign against militants on Sunday, attacked their strongholds in the area and destroyed 10 houses and a number of the so-called "command' centres in the Bajaur tribal region. Militants, in the meantime, freed six soldiers they had earlier kidnapped. Before deciding to launch the operation, […]

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Pakistan: 'Burying women alive for honour is tribal tradition'

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The killing of women for honour is a demand of the tribal traditions, Balochistan Senator Israrullah Zehri informed the Senate on Friday. Zehri was responding to Senator Yasmeen Shah's statement in which she had drawn the House's attention towards reports that five women had been buried alive in Balochistan in the name of […]

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Beat Back Taliban

The New York Times reported that General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, chief of staff of the Pakistan Army met Mike Mullen, David Petraeus, David McKiernan and other top U.S. officials aboard Abraham Lincoln to discuss how best to beat the Taliban in tribal areas. Well, good, finally these guys are waking up!!!   For years, thoughtful and […]

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US' China Strategy, seen through the lens of a veep hopeful

US' China Strategy, seen through the lens of a veep hopeful

Joe Biden (D-DE), presidential runningmate for Dem nominee and well-favored Obama, and his stance on China:  2000.  Voted for the US-China Trade Relations Act, to normalize trade relations with China. 2001. Speech to the Asia Pacific Council of the American Chambers of Commerce: "Our top priority should remain integrating China into the community of nations, articulating […]

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America's Opportunity in Pakistan's Tribal Belt

Lahore, July 28: When Pakistan's Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gillani, visits Washington this week, he will face tough questions about securing Pakistan 's federally administered tribal areas (FATA) along its border with Afghanistan . So will his hosts in Congress. For a key question on Islamabad 's mind is the fate of stalled legislation creating […]

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Fresh Fighting in N.W.F.P

Fresh clashes have erupted in N.W.F.P and 23 Taliban fighters were killed, and the administration had to impose curfew to control the situation. The situation in N.W.F.P has been deteriorating for years now and despite the very best efforts by the army, the terrorists are getting stronger and more confident. They are also increasing their […]

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Clashes erupt in S. Waziristan: 23 Taliban killed; curfew in Wana

WANA, Aug 27: At least 23 Taliban and two soldiers were killed, while 20 militants and seven soldiers were injured on Wednesday after clashes broke out in different areas of South Waziristan. Sources said that the Taliban attacked a checkpost in Tiarza, 3km off Wana on Tuesday night. The security forces countered the attack, killing […]

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Pakistan restores eight judges

Eight of the judges sacked last November by former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf have been reinstated. They took their oaths at the governor's house in Karachi. Reports say seven or eight more may be sworn in next week. Mr Musharraf sacked some 60 judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, but some were restored later. Former […]

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Top US diplomat escapes gun attack

PESHAWAR – Peshawar-based United States Consul General Lynne M Tracy survived an attempt on life here on Tuesday morning. "Two persons boarding Land Cruiser opened fire on the bullet-proof vehicle of the top American diplomat at Rehman Baba Road, University Town, Peshawar," remarked SHO Arshad Khan. He added that the US Consul General was accompanied […]

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Doubts cast on Zardari's mental health

Asif Ali Zardari, the leading contender for the presidency of nuclear-armed Pakistan, was suffering from severe psychiatric problems as recently as last year, according to court documents filed by his doctors. The widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was diagnosed with a range of serious illnesses including dementia, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress […]

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